Japan is pushing to export advanced “Mogami” escort ships to New Zealand, with related issues expected to be discussed at a meeting between defense ministers from Japan, New Zealand, and Australia in Singapore at the end of this month. This move is seen as enhancing the defense interoperability of the three countries in the Indo-Pacific region and addressing the increasingly active maritime activities of China.
According to sources cited by Kyodo News, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono is expected to hold trilateral talks for the first time with New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles during the Asia Security Summit “Shangri-La Dialogue”. The three parties are expected to exchange views on the joint development of a new generation of escort ships between Japan and Australia and explore broader defense cooperation.
The “Mogami” escort ship is the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s new generation multi-role escort ship, featuring a highly stealthy design, advanced radar and sonar systems, and mine warfare capabilities.
In April of this year, Japan and Australia announced plans to jointly develop Australia’s next generation of escort ships based on the “Mogami” escort ship, with a plan to build 11 ships, of which the first three will be constructed in Japan and the first ship is expected to be delivered by December 2029.
Reports indicate that New Zealand is currently evaluating new escort ship programs, with Japan’s “Mogami” and the UK’s Type 31 frigate being among the main candidate options. Japan and Australia are striving to demonstrate to New Zealand the advantages of the “Mogami” program in cooperative operations and regional collaboration, hoping to facilitate the eventual procurement.
At the strategic level, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have been strengthening defense cooperation in recent years. The three countries view each other as “like-minded” partners in the Indo-Pacific region and remain vigilant against China’s increasingly active maritime activities.
Furthermore, in April of this year, the Japanese government revised its defense equipment transfer policy to allow the export of jointly developed defense equipment to countries that have signed defense equipment and technology transfer agreements with Japan, including equipment with lethal capabilities. Sources suggest that Tokyo is currently studying the signing of relevant agreements with New Zealand to pave the way for future arms exports.